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Wednesday, 16 September 2026

Card Clubhouse IG Hop - Week 19

Hello lovely friends; I'm here to share my card for the Card Clubhouse IG hop organised by my sweet friend Kelly. We are on Week 19 and our theme is 'inspired by....' so we are all creating a project inspired by something or someone else.  This is going to be a great hop this week and I can't wait to see what sparks your imagination.
I didn't really know what to do this week until I saw my pile of folded laundry on the table.  I have this really pretty short cotton nightie that I wear in the summer as it's so cool and the colours are beautiful.  I thought this would be the perfect inspiration for my card plus the colours are ones that I definitely wouldn't put together normally.  I'm apologising now for the very creased nightie but if you had waited for me to iron it, well let's say it would have been a while lol!  I hope you like it.
Here is my inspiration:
Aren't the colours just gorgeous?
Here is my card:
A closer look at the details:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by hunting through my coloured card stock to try and find colours that matched.  Most of them were from Stampin' Up! (a really old pack) and one from Heffy Doodle and one from Lawn Fawn.  I went with a pink card panel to replicate the pattern and cut it to 4" x 5 1/4".  I found a die set that had lots of pretty flowers and leaves and die cut them from the coloured card.  I cut the centres of the flowers, along with some dots, from gold glitter card.  I used liquid glue to adhere everything together except I added a foam square between the small flower and the large flower for a little dimension.  It did take me a while to decide on a layout but once I was happy I added them to my background with liquid glue.  I used the glitter dots to fill in any obvious gaps.  I stamped the sentiments onto the light pink card using plum punch ink and used the coordinating dies to cut them out (I also cut 3 more for each from the light pink card so that I could stack them up).  I added the sentiments onto the background using liquid glue.  The panel was then adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another light pink panel and stamped the sentiment in the centre using the plum punch ink.  I die cut a few more flowers and leaves and added them to the bottom of the panel using liquid glue.  I also added a few glitter dots.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

* to be updated *

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #cardclubhouse2026 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you.

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:
Spellbinders - family & friends vignette die set - on sale!
Spellbinders - nature's dance clear stamp & die (for hugs and inside greeting) - on sale!
Spellbinders - colorful expressions blossom clear stamp (for strip sentiment)
Gina K Designs - lots of dots die set
Gina K Designs - plum punch ink pad
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)
Heffy Doodle - variety card pack - store now closed
Lawn Fawn - rainbow card pack

 I have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop - September 26

Hello friends, I hope you're doing great and you've had a great start to your week. I'm sharing my creations for this month's ATC Scrap Makes IG Hop. We challenge you to use leftover die cuts, sentiments and card stock to create Artist Trading Cards (ATC's). You can send them in happy mail, save them on a ring to highlight your favorite creations, swap them with friends or add sweet notes to a lunchbox. Join us if you like; the only rules are to use scraps and create cards that are 2.5” x 3.5” in size. We share our little snippets of happiness on the third Tuesday of the month.
This month I am continuing my alphabet series of ATC's with S, T & U. I think it will be fun each month finding images/dies for each letter. I'm trying to stick to animals and food but we'll see how it goes. I'm excited to see them all at the end and I hope you are going to stick around to see them all too. I used mostly older, retired products but I still love them so why not use them. I hope you like them; do you have a favourite from this month's trio?
Here are my three ATC's:
A closer look at 'S':
A closer look at 'T':
and a closer look at 'U':
I decorated the backs the same as usual:
Once again I used my leftover ink blending scrap paper for my backgrounds (as they turn out really interesting and not something I would create myself) along with some embossed panels and card strips left over from a previous project.  I also added some extra stamping and ink blending to make the ATC's match the images a little more. I stamped all the images and coloured them with Promarkers and as I don't have the dies I fussy cut them all out.  I decided to use the frames again this month but just as edges for some extra interest and I die cut them from card to coordinate with my backgrounds and images and adhered them with liquid glue.  The images were added with foam squares (except for the tiger which was adhered with liquid glue).  I die cut the letters from the same card as the frames, stacking them x 3 and added them to the ATC's with liquid glue. For the backs I simply ink blended the matching colours around the edges and stamped one of the ATC info stamps (that I won a few months ago) in black ink. 

I would like to enter my ATC's in the following challenges:

* to be updated *

I hope you will pop over to Instagram and check out the hop; please use the hashtag #ATCscrapmakes2026 or #ATCscrapmakesSept26 to see all the gorgeous creations and also if you want to participate we will be able to find you. 

I really appreciate you stopping by today. 

Love and hugs,

ATC supplies:
MFT - squirrel stamp
MFT - fierce friends stamp (for tiger)
Jane's Doodles - unicorn stamp
MFT - distressed patterns stamp
MFT - little letters die set
Hunkydory - scalloped edged picture frames die set
Promarkers
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad
Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed 
ATC silicone stamp (won in a challenge)
coloured card all from my scraps bin

Saturday, 12 September 2026

Stencil Fun IG Hop - Sept 26

Hello again friends; I am back to share my card for the Stencil Fun IG Hop organised by my lovely friend Jane. We a group of crafters who are determined to use their forgotten and neglected stencils. I'm definitely guilty of this; I have so many stencils but usually forget to reach for them so this hop is perfect for me. The theme is always anything goes but we will have an optional theme to use if we want to. This month's optional theme is 'butterflies', which I'm sure will be very popular, as most people like butterflies don't they?  I'm sure there will be lots of fantastic and colourful creations, and I'm excited to see what everyone has made.
I used an older ink & flip stencil from Uniko called 'geometric butterfly' which I actually forgot I had. It has two layers but I didn't use the background layer just the butterfly one.  I paired it with an old embossing folder and a stitched frame die and I think it turned out really pretty.  I hope you like it too. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the beautiful butterfly:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by stencilling the butterfly onto some scrap white card using light blue and light green ink pads.  The great thing about these ink and flip stencils is that there is only one layer and you literally flip it over to do the other part of the design.  I decided to fussy cut the butterfly so that I could add some dimension behind it with foam squares.  I cut a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and embossed it using a very old script folder.  I die cut a stitched frame from white card, as well as 2 more from 300gsm card, so that I could layer them up using liquid glue.  I added some blue and green spatter to the embossed background (it's quite subtle so a little hard to see in the photo) and then adhered the frame onto the panel with liquid glue.  I added the butterfly with foam squares in the upper part of the frame; I only added the foam squares behind the body of the butterfly so that the wings could be raised up.  I stamped the sentiment using the light blue ink pad and cut it out with a sentiment strips die.  I added the sentiment below the butterfly with foam squares.  I finished off with some blue and green sequins.  The panel was adhered to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and partially stencilled the butterfly along the bottom.  I partially embossed the script folder just over the butterfly and I think it looks really effective.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with blue ink and added the panel onto my card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut
Can You Handle The Pressure challenge - use an EF optional cloudy day
Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal
Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter
Mix It Up challenge - ATG optional embossing
Paper Rocks Scissors challenge - I fussy cut the butterfly
Stencil Fun challenge - ATG use a stencil optional yellow
Triple B challenge - birds, blooms or butterflies optional inspiration photo

We hope you will be inspired by our Stencil Fun Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous cards along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #stencilfunSeptt2026 and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lots of love, 

card supplies:
Uniko - floral vines clear stamp (for sentiments)
Provo Craft - cuttlebug script embossing folder
Gina K Designs - master layouts 18 die set (for frame die)
Gina K Designs - ink pads - ocean mist and applemint
Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base and extra frames)
sequins from Little Things by Lucy's Cards & Studio Katia - both sadly closed

I have Affiliate Links for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

CASE IT IG Hop - September 2026

Hello again friends. I hope you've had a great start to your weekend. I'm here to share this month's card for the CASE IT Instagram Hop where we find a project on Instagram that inspires us and we will share that project as well as the project we’ve created. There are so many beautiful creations on Instagram the only difficult part is narrowing down which one to CASE (which means Copy And Share Everything).
This month I was inspired by @buzsy and as soon as I saw this card I was in love and asked her if I could CASE it right away.  I loved the blended leaf focal image with the silhouette stamping and how she kept the background very CAS and elegant.  I decided to make a Christmas card but you can definitely see that my card was inspired by hers! Here is her card for my inspiration:
Isn't her card just perfect? Using Ardyth's LIMES process (you can watch her video here) we list what we see - she has used yellow, orange, brown and green as her main colours, a subtle embossed white background, a large leaf die cut and simple black on white sentiment all layered on a brown panel. So I used a bauble die instead of the leaf, and used a monochromatic blue colour combo.  I skipped the embossed background and but kept the spatters.  I also added two strip sentiments instead of one and added some silver pearls.  I hope you like it.
Here is my card:
A closer look at the details:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4' and added some spatter using my blue ink pads; I did decide to add a blue mat layer so trimmed my panel down slightly and layered them together with liquid glue.  I die cut the bauble from white card and the topper from silver mirror card.  I stamped the silhouette images onto the bauble using black ink, stamped the snowy background stamp in blue ink and used a few different blue ink pads plus a light grey ink pad to blend over the bauble.  I added the silver topper with liquid glue and added foam squares behind the bauble and added it onto the panel. I found some pre-printed Christmas sentiment sheets, die cut them with sentiment strips dies and added both with foam squares.  I added a white twine bow to the bauble topper and finished off with some silver pearls.  The panel was then adhered to my card base with double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and blue mat layer and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I stamped the silhouette images at the bottom and ink blended some blue ink over them.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre using black ink before adding the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist stripes
A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut
Farm Quest Country Christmas challenge - anything goes country Christmas
Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes
Peace On Earth Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed optional mood board

We hope you will be inspired by our CASE IT Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous cards along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #caseithop and we will find you.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Lots of love

card supplies:
Gina K Designs - joyful ornament 3d embossing folder, stencil & die set (I only used the die)
Gina K Designs - holiday silhouettes stamp
Gina K Designs - snowy background stamp
Gina K Designs - ink pads - sea glass, blue sky, powder blue, blue raspberry, soft stone
Gina K Designs - sentiment strips die set
Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

I have affiliate links for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x

Thursday, 10 September 2026

Just Us Girls challenge #840 - Word Week

Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. I am here to share my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge and this week is Word Week and Ina has given us the theme of 'bold'. You could go with a bold sentiment or image or even bold colours.  I can't wait to see that you create so come and join in the fun with us.  Our guest this month is Julia Aston so please pop over and show her some love.
I choose to go with bold colours and a bold background stamp so hopefully covered all the bases this week.  I used a rainbow of colours and a fun Uniko stamp which I stamped in black.  I hope you like it. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the details:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" and using my rainbow colours of ink pads blended my background.  I then used my Misti to stamp the birthday background stamp using black ink.  I also added some extra doodling using a white gelly roll pen, a yellow Posca pen and a gold metallic zig writer pen.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered it to my card base using double sided tape.  For the inside I cut another white panel and blended the rainbow colours along the bottom (although I realised half way through that I started my rainbow from the wrong side oops!).  I stamped the present from the background and fussy cut it out and then blended over it with red and orange inks (using masking tape to try and keep the colours in the right place) and also added some white gelly roll pen dots.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Colorful Options challenge - option 3 rainbow
Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - Letter I (ink blending)
Seize the Birthday challenge - add a sentiment strip (no topping this week)
Word Power challenge - sentiment as the focus of your card

I can't wait to see all your bold creations this week and look forward to seeing your entries in the linky. Please pop over to the challenge blog and leave some love for the rest of the design team.

I appreciate you stopping by.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:
Uniko - pure florals: cosmos clear stamp (for inside sentiment)
Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad
Zig - writer gold metallic pen (can only find it in a 6 colour pack)

I have Affiliate Links for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x

Krafty Chicks challenge #837 - Christmas

Good morning lovely friends. I hope you're all doing ok and having a great week so far. It's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week is Week 2, our theme is 'Christmas' and I am your hostess. We are in the 'ber months now so if you haven't already started your Christmas cards it's time to ramp up production.  We hope you will join us and build up your collection and take the pressure off in December.  So come on over and join in the fun with us.
I went fairly clean and simple this week and used a Penny Black wooden stamp that I got from a friend in her recent destash.  I found a tin of Arteza expert pencils (which I completely forgot I had) so thought I would try them out.  I think I need a little more practice but it turned out ok.  I hope you like it. 
Here is my card:
A closer look at the adorable image:
Plus I decorated the inside:
I began by cutting a white panel 4" x 5 1/4" from alcohol marker friendly card (although I will cut it down later) and stamped the image at the bottom using Memento ink.  I used the Arteza pencils and sansodor (similar to gamsol) to colour the image.  I did a test one first and I messed up the hedgie so the one on my card is my second try.  I die cut the panel using a stitched rectangle die and also die cut 2 more stitched rectangles in slightly increasing sizes to layer up.  I also die cut a red mat layer using a plain rectangle die and adhered all the layers together using liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment onto white card using black ink and used a stitched label die to cut it out.  I also die cut a flag banner from red card and layered them together using liquid glue.  I added the sentiment label to the top left of my panel using liquid glue.  I added the panel to my card base using double sided tape.  I didn't add any embellishments as I liked the CAS design.  For the inside I die cut the largest stitched rectangle from white and the plain rectangle from red and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I salvaged the snowman from my test run and fussy cut him out before adding him to the bottom left corner with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the bottom right corner with black ink.  The panel was adhered to the card base using double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up challenge - ATG Christmas optional twist stripes
ABC Christmas challenge - S is for snowman
A Cut Above challenge - ATG with a die cut
Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal
Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter
Merry Little Christmas challenge - anything Christmas goes
Peace on Earth Christmas challenge - anything Christmas themed optional mood board
Penny Black Saturday challenge - ATG optional use a die
Simply Clean and Simple challenge - ATG CAS optional theme jungle animals

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Christmas' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - LeanneDiane and Lori

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments.  I'll be back in a little while with my card for this week's Just Us Girls challenge. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies:
Arteza- Expert 120 coloured pencils in tin
Winsor & Newton - sansodor low odour solvent
Clearly Besotted - mini messages clear stamp - retired 
LOTV - Christmas greetings A5 clear stamp (for inside) no longer available
Gina K Designs - master layouts 01 die set (for plain rectangle die)
Gina K Designs - master layouts 02 die set (for middle stitched rectangle die)
Gina K Designs - master layouts 05 die set (for smallest stitched rectangle, flag die and strip die)
Gian K Designs - master layouts 14 die set (for largest stitched rectangle die)
Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)
Limetree Craft - 300gsm smooth white card (for card base)
Limetree Craft - persian red 200gsm card
Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad
Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

I have Affiliate Links for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my links as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you x